UCLA basketball tickets have long been special for many, many reasons. When you think of sports dynasties, you think of Lombardi's Packers, Auerbach's Celtics, the Yankees of several eras and the Montreal Canadiens. Wooden's Bruins can stand up to every one of them and then some. Listing all of the legendary players of UCLA lore would be too numerous for this forum, but rest assured that an entire wing of the Hall of Fame could be filled with UCLA alumni.
However, in recent decades, the Bruins, compared to the almost unattainable standard history had set, was not achieving at their historic levels. They did break through for an NCAA title in 1995, but other than that, Westwood's trophy case has not had any recent additions in recent times.
That could all be changing right before our eyes, as the 2007 Bruins are beginning to look like the great Bruin teams of old. They advanced all the way to the NCAA Final last year before losing a tough game to Florida, and so far this season, it looks as though they haven't missed a beat. There are reasons for this resurgence, and we'll examine a couple of them below.
Ben Howland
When Howland took over at UCLA in 2003, the Bruins had officially fallen on hard times. They had become one of those teams that always seemed to recruit well, but they were at best a hit-or-miss bubble team for the NCAA Tournament. UCLA basketball tickets were actually quite easy to find for most games, and the Bruin faithful were down in the dumps.
Howland came aboard and instilled several things that the program had been missing. The first element was discipline. Howland's teams never give a game away, and that was a hallmark of his teams at Pittsburgh before he came to Westwood. He also put together a roster that actually played hard-nosed defense, which was not something UCLA had been known for in recent years. There were even whispers that UCLA was "soft," and that was unacceptable for everyone involved with the program.
The Right Kind of Talent
Under Howland, the program stopped simply chasing all the five-star recruits it could gather and began to build a team that together would become a unit that covered all the moving parts a successful squad needs. They added scoring and athleticism, of course, but they also added defense, rebounding, guards that could dribble and distribute, and several role players who take care of all the "little" things that win games in the end but may not show up on the stat sheet.
What it All Means
What this all means is that with the talent, consistency and stability that once again exists at UCLA, the team will be able to sell its own tradition and history to recruits, and it's beginning to look like every year should be one when UCLA should contend for the Final Four. The fans in Westwood wouldn't expect anything less, and UCLA basketball tickets are once again nearly impossible to find.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Member Tickets for Exhibit
By: barbara | 02-07-2008
I want to order two tickets to the Women Inpressionists exhibit. Please walk me through how to do it in museumtix.com. I can't find the right place for members to do this.Thanks,Barbara SeibertUU500549
Can a cop give you a ticket in a private parking ...
By: Dee | 01-07-2008
Can a cop give you a ticket in a private parking lot? My son had entered his high school parking lot where a city police officer was inside waiting...the officer would then follow students to their cars and issue tickets for un-doing their seatbelts before coming to a complete stop. Is this legal?
Urge to urinate
By: PracticalThinker | 30-06-2008
I wake up multiple times each night because I have the urge to urinate. This disturbs my sleep tremendously. Is this normal?
Celebrity to father your children?
By: AllisonG | 30-06-2008
If you could pick one celebrity to father your children, who would it be?
When will Joel Osten tickets be available for sale ...
By: Janette | 28-06-2008
When will Joel Osten tickets be available for sale oct 24th at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan???
Can a retired NBA player cash out his ...
By: amar848108 | 27-06-2008
Can a retired NBA player cash out his pension?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Basketball Articles
Basketball Legend Earl the Pearl
By: Eddie Delgado | 03/07/2008
Vernon Earl Monroe is a former NBA basketball player whose nicknames have included; Earl the Pearl, Black Magic and Black Jesus. Drafted in the first round of the NBA draft in 1967 to the Baltimore Bullets (now the Washington Wizards), Earl Monroe was well known for his playing passing and play-making style and for his flamboyant flowing dribbling.
Doc Rivers 2008 Nba Coach of the Year
By: Eddie Delgado | 03/07/2008
Doc Rivers born Glenn Rivers on October 13, 1961 is honored both for his professional NBA playing career and his coaching career. His professional NBA playing career began
representing the United States with the national team in the 1982 FIBA World Championship, where he made the MVP selection.
Pat Riley Greatest Coach of All Time
By: Eddie Delgado | 03/07/2008
Pat Riley considered the greatest NBA coach of all times has been the head coach of five championship teams, most recent 2006 NBA Championship with the Miami Heat. Retired as head coach, he now heads the Miami heat as team president. Prior to his Miami Heat coaching, he headed the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks.
Mental Training in Basketball: the Driving Force in Every Game
By: Jason Richards | 01/07/2008
Most people would tend to perceive basketball as a purely physical game. You can see that evidence everywhere: endless physical trainings to bout any bodily weaknesses; energy drinks and foods that focus on combating fatigue; clothes and shoes that give comfort during the game; etcetera, etcetera.
Basketball Basics: Footwork
By: Jason Richards | 01/07/2008
It is certainly fun watching basketball. But for players, the game isn't just fun. It is challenging.
Dribbling Your Way Out of Trouble
By: Jason Richards | 01/07/2008
Learning to play basketball is a lot of hard work. One of the most basic things a player has to learn is dribbling. Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously with one hand in a repetitive motion which ends when the continuity is disturbed or when the player touches the ball with both hands
Playing Basketball With Tenacious Defense
By: Jason Richards | 01/07/2008
During a basketball game, people commonly shout the word "DEFENSE!". Come to think of it, do people in the stadium really know the meaning of the word? Does the basketball team, players and coaches, understand the meaning of the word? Is the value and importance of the word defense recognized? Sometimes
Playing Field for One of the Best Sports of All Time
By: Jason Richards | 01/07/2008
When we talk about basketball, people always argue about legends and recent plays; basketball is often dubbed to be one of the best sports of all time. Often being played by men, these are the grounds which they show their skills. You can always find a basketball court near your neighborhood or anywhere in
More from Jay Nault
San Francisco Giants Tickets - 2007 Will Be An Intriguing Season
By: Jay Nault | 21/03/2007 | Sports and Fitness
San Francisco Giants tickets have been in demand in recent seasons, but that was mostly due to the exploits of one player as opposed to the prospects of the team winning a World Series. Well, that player is back for an historic record chase this season, but the team...
Norah Jones Tickets - A Legend In The Making?
By: Jay Nault | 20/03/2007 | Art and Entertainment
Norah Jones tickets have been in high demand for more than five years already, and her career is beginning to resemble the path of several legends who came before her in the music industry. Jones' angelic voice is pure vocal talent personified, and her sultry style is reminiscent of...
Sheryl Crow Tickets - One Of The Biggest Female Stars In The World Returns
By: Jay Nault | 20/03/2007 | Art and Entertainment
Sheryl Crow tickets have always been a chance for fans to see an all-encompassing show. Crow is known for her angelic vocals, but she has many other musical talents at her disposal, including the guitar and songwriting, and she has always enjoyed the reputation of putting on incredible live...
Houston Astros Tickets - Will 2007 Be "The" Year?
By: Jay Nault | 20/03/2007 | Sports and Fitness
Houston Astros tickets have been a hot item in recent years for several reasons, and those include seeing one of the most innovative ballparks in professional sports, watching the great Roger Clemens pitch, seeing the Astros put up monster offensive numbers and finding out if the team can finally break...
Ohio State Basketball Tickets - Is Osu Still A
By: Jay Nault | 20/03/2007 | Basketball
Ohio State basketball tickets at one time gave fans the chance to see one of the most dominant programs in the United States. However, that was 40 years ago, and since then the Buckeyes have been largely known as a "football school", and for good reason. The football...
Grease Tickets - See A Film Legend Live On Stage
By: Jay Nault | 19/03/2007 | Art and Entertainment
When you mention "Grease tickets" to someone, chances are they'll think you're heading towards a night of seeing the classic film. However, the legendary show is set for another run in theaters, and it's garnering the same rave reviews in this medium as it did originally. The story...
Texas A
By: Jay Nault | 18/03/2007 | Sports and Fitness
For many years, Texas A&M Aggies basketball tickets have been nothing more than an afterthought in College Station. Texas A&M was always a football school, and little else mattered much at all. However, the culture in the area is beginning to turn, and the Aggies are providing fans...
Legally Blonde Tickets - New Film Classic Hits The Stage
By: Jay Nault | 18/03/2007 | Art and Entertainment
Legally Blonde tickets are available for this highly-anticipated stage debut, and if the on-stage production rivals the film, thespians are in for quite a treat indeed. The show has become legendary for several reasons, and the film set the stage not only for the theater production, but also for...